Child Labor and Minors in Entertainment

Today, approximately 80% of all students work sometime during high school. Child labor laws ensure that our youth have the necessary time to pursue their education and be employed in a safe workplace. Georgia's child labor law was written in 1878 whereas the federal child labor law is provided for under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) enacted in 1938.

When there are differences between federal and state laws pertaining to child labor, the law providing the more stringent standard is observed.

The Georgia Department of Labor (GDOL) Child Labor section administers and monitors the guidelines and restrictions for the employment of youth who have not yet reached their 18th birthday and performs the following functions:

Reviews all issued Employment Certificates, commonly called Work Permits, to ensure job duties do not appear to be in violation of the law and that the form has been properly completed;

State law and Department Rules apply to all Minors employed in the State of Georgia in the Entertainment Industry and to the entities that employ a Minor in a Production or who are responsible for the safety and welfare of the Minor while at a Location where the Minor is Performing.

For more information on these functions or state laws contact the GDOL Child Labor section at 404-232-3260.

Employers subject to the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) must adhere to the federal restrictions.

Employers may call one of these offices of the U.S. Department of Labor’s (USDOL) Wage and Hour Division for information on federal laws and to find out if they are subject to the FLSA.